The Church in Antioch

Scattered. “Those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch” (11:19). Persecution means hurting people because of what they believe. Far from home. Phoenicia was a land along the sea north of Israel. Cyprus is a big island. Antioch was a large city in Syria, far to the north. Jews only. At first they preached “to no one but the Jews only” (11:19). They told the good news to people who already knew God’s promises. Something new. Then some believers, “men from Cyprus and Cyrene,” came to Antioch and “spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus” (11:20). These Hellenists were most likely Greek people who were not Jews. In Caesarea, God had shown Peter that He welcomes people from every nation (Acts 10). Ordinary believers. These men were not apostles. They were everyday followers of Jesus who could not keep quiet about Him. The hand of the Lord. “And the hand of the Lord was with them” (11:21). God’s hand means His power and help. The men did the talking, but God did the saving. Believed and turned. “A great number believed and turned to the Lord” (11:21). To turn to the Lord means to turn away from sin and trust Jesus. A new church. Now there was a church in Antioch, and many people in it had not grown up knowing God’s Word. What we learn. You do not have to be famous to tell people about Jesus. When you speak about Him, the Lord is with you, and He is the One who changes hearts.

The scattering (11:19). “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.” Phoenicia was the coast north of Galilee, Cyprus an island to the west, and Antioch a great city of Syria far to the north. Men of Cyprus and Cyrene (11:20). Cyrene was a city on the coast of North Africa. These men were most likely Greek-speaking Jewish believers who had grown up far from Jerusalem. The Hellenists. In Acts 6 the Hellenists were Greek-speaking Jews. Here they stand apart from “the Jews only” of verse 19, so they were most likely Greeks who were not Jews. In Caesarea, God had shown Peter that He welcomes people from every nation (Acts 10). Preaching the Lord Jesus. They did not begin with a list of rules. They preached a Person, and they called Him Lord. The hand of the Lord (11:21). “And the hand of the Lord was with them.” In the Old Testament, God’s hand means His power at work for His people. Joshua set up stones “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty” (Joshua 4:24). Believed and turned. “A great number believed and turned to the Lord.” Believing and turning belong together: trusting Jesus means turning from sin and from old ways to Him. A new kind of church. Now a large church was growing among people who had not been raised on the Scriptures. They would need teaching, and God provided it (11:25-26). Application. God used ordinary believers, not only apostles, to start the church in Antioch. Speak about Jesus where God has placed you, and trust His hand to do the work only He can do.

The believers had to leave Jerusalem. Some of them went all the way to Antioch. At first they told only Jewish people about Jesus. Then some men from Cyprus and Cyrene did something new. They told Greek people the Good News too. Jesus came to save people from every nation. The Bible says that the hand of the Lord was with them. That means God was helping them. A big group of people believed. They turned away from sin and trusted Jesus. These men were not famous leaders. They were everyday believers who loved Jesus. God can use you to tell about Jesus too!

Some men told Greek people about Jesus. God helped them, and many believed! You can tell about Jesus too.

News travels. “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch” (11:22). The church wanted to help the new believers. A man from Cyprus. Barnabas was from Cyprus (Acts 4:36), like some of the men who first preached in Antioch. The grace of God. “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad” (11:23). Grace is God’s kindness that we do not earn. Barnabas could see it in the lives of the new believers. Glad about God’s work. These new believers had not come to Jesus through the apostles. Barnabas did not need to be the one who started the work. He was simply glad that God was at work. Stay with the Lord. He “encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord” (11:23). Purpose of heart means a heart that has decided. Continue with the Lord means stay close to Him. A good man. “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24). The Holy Spirit lived in Barnabas and made him this kind of man. Added to the Lord. “And a great many people were added to the Lord” (11:24). They were not only joining a group. They were joined to Jesus Himself. What we learn. Be glad when God is working in other people. Decide in your heart to stay close to Jesus, and help your friends stay close to Him too.

Sent (11:22). “Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.” The Jerusalem church had done something like this when Samaria received the word (8:14). A man from Cyprus. Barnabas came from Cyprus (4:36), like some of the men who preached in Antioch. He could most likely speak easily with Greek-speaking believers. Seeing grace (11:23). “When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad.” Grace is God’s undeserved kindness. Grace itself cannot be seen, but what it does can be: sinners turned to the Lord, and new love for Jesus. Continue (11:23). He “encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” The Greek prosmeno (say: pros-MEN-oh) means to stay on with someone, to remain at their side. Purpose of heart is a settled decision, not a passing feeling. Why he responded this way (11:24). Verse 24 gives the reason: “For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.” A heart full of the Spirit is glad to see God at work in others, even when someone else began the work. Added (11:24). “And a great many people were added to the Lord.” Verse 24 says added to the Lord, not only to the church. Faith joins a person to Christ Himself. Application. Envy shrinks when we look for God’s grace in other people. Thank God out loud when you see Him working in someone, and choose with a settled heart to stay close to Jesus.

The church in Jerusalem heard the news. So they sent Barnabas to Antioch. Barnabas saw how God had blessed the people. God’s grace is His kindness that we do not earn. Barnabas could see that grace in the new believers. So Barnabas was glad! He told them, “Never lose your faith. Always obey the Lord with all your hearts.” That means to stay close to Jesus every day. Barnabas was a good man. The Holy Spirit filled him, and he trusted God. Then many more people became followers of the Lord. You can be glad when God is working in other people too.

Barnabas saw God at work, and he was glad. He told everyone to stay close to Jesus. We can be glad when God helps others.

Looking for Saul. “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul” (11:25). Tarsus was Saul’s hometown. The believers had sent him there when his life was in danger (Acts 9:29-30). Found. “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch” (11:26). To seek means to search. Barnabas went looking until he found him. A whole year. “For a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people” (11:26). New believers need to learn God’s Word, and Barnabas and Saul kept on teaching them all year. A new name. “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (11:26). A disciple is a follower who learns from Jesus. Christian means someone who belongs to Christ. Christ. Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It means the Anointed One, the King God promised to send. Jews and Greeks together. In Antioch, Jewish believers and Greek believers followed Jesus together. Most likely the people of the city named them after the One they talked about all the time. Bearing the name. Many Christians see this name as a reminder that we carry Jesus’ name wherever we go. What we learn. If you trust Jesus, you belong to Him. Keep learning about Him, so that people can tell whose you are.

Tarsus (11:25). “Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.” Saul had been sent home to Tarsus when his life was threatened in Jerusalem (9:29-30). The Greek anazeteo (say: an-ad-zay-TEH-oh) means to search up and down, to hunt for someone. Barnabas went looking until he found him. The right helper. Barnabas did not try to do the work alone. He brought in Saul, the man the Lord had chosen to carry His name to the Gentiles (9:15). Assembled and taught (11:26). “So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people.” Believers who had not grown up with the Scriptures needed patient, steady teaching, and they received it for a whole year. Christians (11:26). “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” The name means people who belong to Christ, the Anointed One. Most likely it was first used by people outside the church, who saw that these disciples talked about Christ all the time. One family, one name. Jewish and Greek believers met together in Antioch. The name they received was not about a nation or a family line. It was about Jesus. Disciples first. They were disciples, learners and followers of Jesus, before they had the name. The name described what people could already see. Bearing the name. Many Christians see the name as both a gift and a calling: we belong to Christ, and we are to show Him to others. Application. A name is only as true as the life behind it. Belong to Christ by faith, keep learning His Word with His people, and let your life show whose you are.

Barnabas went to the city of Tarsus. He was looking for Saul. Saul was the man Jesus had stopped on the road. Barnabas found him and brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they taught the church. New believers need to learn God’s Word. Then people began to call the believers Christians. A Christian is someone who belongs to Christ. Christ means the King God promised to send. Christ is Jesus! Many Christians see this name as a reminder. We carry Jesus’ name wherever we go. Do you belong to Jesus?

Saul and Barnabas taught for a whole year. People called the believers Christians! That means they belong to Jesus.

Prophets. “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch” (11:27). A prophet speaks a message from God. Agabus. “Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world” (11:28). A famine is a time when there is not enough food. The Holy Spirit showed Agabus what was coming. It happened. The famine “also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar” (11:28). Claudius was the emperor who ruled Rome. God’s word through Agabus came true. Decided to help. “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea” (11:29). Relief means help for people in need. Each person gave what he was able to give. Brethren. Brethren means brothers. Many believers in Antioch were Greeks, and the believers in Judea were Jews. In Jesus they were one family. Trusted hands. “This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul” (11:30). Elders were leaders who cared for the church. God cares. God knew about the hard time before it came. He told His people, and He used them to care for one another. What we learn. God knows what is coming, and He cares for His people. When a brother or sister in Christ is in need, ask God how you can help.

Prophets (11:27). “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.” In the early church, prophets were believers through whom the Holy Spirit spoke messages to strengthen and guide the church. Agabus (11:28). “Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world.” By the Spirit means the Holy Spirit gave him the message. Agabus was not guessing. Fulfilled (11:28). It “also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar,” who ruled Rome from AD 41 to 54. Ancient historians also tell of food shortages while Claudius ruled. Each according to his ability (11:29). “Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.” Every believer had a part, and each gave as he was able. Determined means they made a firm decision. Elders (11:30). “This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” The Greek presbyteros (say: pres-BOO-teh-ros) first meant an older man. In the church, elders were leaders who watched over the believers. One family. Greek believers in Antioch sent help to Jewish believers in Judea, people many of them had never met. Jesus had made them brethren. A word that serves. God did not give Agabus’ message to frighten the church. He gave it so that His people could get ready and care for one another. Application. Love in God’s family reaches across distance and background. Ask God to show you one real need among His people, and do your part with what you have.

Some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. A prophet tells messages from God. One prophet was named Agabus. The Holy Spirit helped him speak. He said a very hard time was coming. There would not be enough food. A time like that is called a famine. It happened, just as God said. God takes care of His people in hard times. The believers in Antioch wanted to help. Each one gave as much as he could. Barnabas and Saul carried the gift to the elders in Judea. Greek believers helped Jewish believers. Jesus made them one family!

Agabus said there would not be enough food. So the believers sent help! In God’s family, we care for each other.

The Church in Antioch

🎉 All Matched!